Parks & Recreation

Activities, News & Events

2018 St. Johns County Beach Driving Passes on Sale – Beach Driving Passes go on sale December 4 and make great stocking stuffers for the holiday season. St. Johns County resident passes are $50, non-resident passes are $100, and handicap passes are $40. 2018 Beach Driving Passes On Sale

The Recreation Advisory Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 21 has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 14.

St. Johns County and St. Augustine Glory host Youth Basketball Clinic – St. Johns County is partnering with newly-established American Basketball Association team St. Augustine Glory to offer a basketball clinic and an open practice to County youth ages 8 to 14 at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center, 1300 Duval Street. Participants will learn basketball skills and team-building abilities from St. Augustine Glory players, attend a team practice immediately following the clinic, and receive a free ticket to the December 9 St. Augustine Glory game.

A clinic for players 8 to 11 years old will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and a clinic for players 12 to 14 years old will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on December 8. The fee to attend the clinic is $20 per child. Early registration is encouraged, as clinics are limited to 30 participants per division. Registration forms are available at www.sjcfl.us/Recreation/media/StAugustineGloryRegistrationForm.pdf and can be emailed to sntaylor@sjcfl.us, or mailed or hand-delivered to St. Johns County Parks and Recreation, 2175 Mizell Road, St. Augustine, 32080. For more information, please call 904.209.0377.

Winter Wonderland – Celebrate the holidays with fun activities at the Solomon Calhoun pool! Bring the family to enjoy snowman relay races, scavenger hunt, decorate cookies and hot cocoa bar, and fun holiday crafts. Santa will be making an appearance to enjoy the festivities and celebrate the holiday. Saturday, December 16 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. For more information, please call 904.471.9622 or 904.824.6770. Winter Wonderland

Walk the (Wrack) Line – Thursday, January 11 at 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and Saturday 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Vilano Beach, 2750 Anahma Dr., Vilano. Ever wonder what is in the wrack line that washes up on the beach? Now is your chance to learn. Join County Naturalist Kelly Ussia to explore the wrack line and identify the amazing things that end up there. Participants will walk the beach and comb through the wrack line to learn about its importance, creatures that utilize it, and objects that often end up there. Please register here, or for more information, please contact Kelly Ussia at 904-209-0335 or kussia@sjcfl.us.

Children's Shorebird Nesting Program – Saturday, January 13, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Nease Beachfront Park, 3171 Coastal Highway, Vilan. Parks and Recreation has partnered with the St. Johns County Audubon to offer an FREE Shorebird Nesting Program for children third grade and up. Participants will learn about the unique birds that nest along our beaches and participate in activities that mirror what the real bird biologists do to protect our local nesting sites. Please register here, or for more information,contact Kelly Ussia at 904-209-0335 or kussia@sjcfl.us.

Walk Through Time – Wednesday, January 17 & Thursday, January 25 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Frank B. Butler Park East, 5860 A1A South, St. Augustine. Parks and Recreation has partnered with the County Cultural Resource Coordinator to offer an exciting new program on the history of Butler Beach. Take a walk back in time and learn about the important cultural and ecological history of this unique area. Please register here, or for more information, contact Kelly Ussia at 904-209-0335 or kussia@sjcfl.us.

Owl Prowl – Saturday, January 20, 5:30 p.m. at Alpine Groves Park, 2060 SR 13, St. Johns. Participate in a unique opportunity to explore a county park after dark with our County Naturalist. Those who attend will learn about the creatures of the night, including the resident owls. Sign up today for this FREE guided walk. Please register here, or for more information, contact AyoLane Halusky at 904-209-0348 or ahalusky@sjcfl.us.

River Blessing – Saturday, January 27, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at Alpine Groves Park, 2060 State Road 13, St. Johns.
The River Blessing is spiritual but non-religious, and is inspired by first nation’s teachings. We will have The Matanzas and St. Johns River Keepers present to speak about the river and offer inspirational words. Drums are welcome for a simple heart beat during the blessing. Please contact AyoLane Halusky at 904-209-0348 or ahalusky@sjcfl.us.

Beluthahatchee Open House – Saturday, January 27, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Beluthahatchee Park, 1523 State Road 13, St. Johns. Drop in for a tour of the historic Beluthahatchee Park. This site has the distinct honor of being the only site that is a National Literary Landmark that honors two writers, Stetson Kennedy and Woody Guthrie. Learn about the friendship shared between these two amazing men and tour Stetson Kennedy's home. Please contact AyoLane Halusky at 904-209-0348 or ahalusky@sjcfl.us.

Parks & Facility Announcements

Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park Temporary Closures– The parking lot, beach access, and all related facilities, will experience intermittent, temporary closures beginning the week of December 4 through spring 2018 while the site is utilized as a staging area for beach restoration associated with Hurricane Irma. Visitors are encouraged to exercise caution as heavy equipment will be on the beach until restoration efforts are complete. For information on other County beach access points, please visit www.sjcfl.us/beaches. For more information, please call 904.209.0322.

Pope Road Beach Access Closure due to Beach Renourishment Project – The St. Augustine Beach access point will be closed beginning Monday, November 27 for an Army Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project. The access point will remain a staging area for equipment throughout the project, which is scheduled to be completed in spring 2018. The beach will be open outside of work areas and visitors are encouraged to exercise caution. For more information, please visit saj.usace.army.mil/StAugustineBeach. Pope Road Beach Access Closure

Parks and Recreation Facilities Closed Due to Hurricane Irma –
The following St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Facilities are closed pending inspections due to Hurricane Irma. Within parks that are open, there may be areas that are closed due to safety concerns:

Flagler Estates Park & Basketball Courts

Riverdale Park East and West are closed.

Trout Creek Boat Ramp - Limited access due to river cleanup.

W. E. Harris Community Center Pre-School Playground

Ketterlinus Gym Closed– Due to storm damages caused by Hurricane Matthew, the Ketterlinus Gym remains closed to the public. A reopening date has yet to be determined.

Stay Up to Date

Parks and Recreation E-newsletter – Our monthly newsletter keeps you up to date on St. Johns County recreational facilities and programming, youth and adult athletics, and special events. In addition, you'll get information about parks, beach access points, and unique recreational opportunities that allow subscribers to discover St. Johns County and enjoy a quality of life that is second to none. Please complete the signup form to register. For additional information, please call 904.209.0346.

Our Commitment

The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department is committed to a thriving local park system, the opportunity for our residents and visitors to enjoy healthy, active lifestyles, and the preservation of the natural beauty of our environment. Explore the many ways Parks and Recreation is making our communities happier and healthier by providing a place where it all comes together – a sense of community, an appreciation of history, and a respect for nature.

Contact

For more information about the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department, please contact our main office, 2175 Mizell Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080, (904) 209-0333.

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